Interactive light installation for the Moscow City Day

This immersive space was used to present the new collection of Swarovski jewelry "Sea of sparkle".

EXODUS is a site-specific kinetic installation, located in the pond in the courtyard of the State Tretyakov Gallery on Krymsky Val. ‘EXODUS’ is composed of dozens of elements covered with dichroic coating, which are reminiscent of classic magnetic compass needles. Direct sunlight reveals the complicated inner structure of the installation. In the evening, the system of architectural lighting creates complex patterns of shadow play on the surface of the gallery building. The movements of the elements at the top and bottom of the sculpture form a balanced composition — regardless of the spectator's viewpoint. The reflections from the object on the pond’s surface become another expressive feature. This minor architectural form is a reference to futuristic buildings and utopian projects of the Russian “cosmists” — where light and dynamics are the main structural components. 05 August - 15 November 2017 // State Tretyakov Gallery on Krymsky Val

Installation “Personal Supernova” depicts a stellar explosion through an hourglass-like form. SN 1987A is the scientific designation of the supernova referenced by the work. The substance emitted during the explosion contains the products of thermonuclear fusion. Because of supernovae, the universe as a whole and every galaxy in particular evolve chemically. The synthesis of heavy elements in supernovae during the evolution of the universe made life on Earth and, possibly, even the birth of our planetary system possible. The light installation “Personal Supernova” is made of translucent colored acrylic. Complex reflections appear when the object is illuminated.

The work is housed in a chrome-finished 36-inch television set. The CRT has been replaced with switchable glass that becomes transparent when voltage is applied. When the glass is opaque, an outline of a hand is projected onto its surface, evoking prehistoric cave art and Plato’s allegory of the cave. When a visitor places a hand on the outline, the screen becomes transparent, revealing an arrangement of aluminum mirrors, lights and Buddha figurines inside the casing. The work reinterprets Nam June Paik’s pioneering practice, particularly his “TV Buddha” series. When the visitor removes their hand, the screen becomes opaque again.